Bobbin orienting

ABSTRACT

A device for orienting bobbins having opposite ends of different sizes. A gauge is provided for receiving only the smaller end of the bobbin. As the bobbin is delivered to the device either the larger or the smaller end may be presented to the gauge. In the event that the smaller end is presented to the gauge the bobbin is supported solely on a trap door which opens so that the smaller end of the bobbin pivots about the gauge as the bobbin is discharged large end downward. If the larger end of the bobbin is presented to the gauge, the smaller end is above an abutment with an intermediate portion of the bobbin supported by the trap door so that when the trap door is opened the smaller end pivots about the abutment and again the bobbin is discharged larger end downward.

finite ties Ptent [2 1 i2 1 i 1 i 1 Inventor App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee BUEBIN ORIENTHNG 2 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

Us. Cl, Int. Cl. r. Field oi Search References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,276,566 1/1966 Raasch 3,456,770 7/1969 Walk Primary Examiner--Harvey-C. Hornsby Assistant EraminerMerle F. Maffei Attorneys-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton ABSTRACT: A device for orienting bobbins having opposite ends of different sizes. A gauge is provided for receiving only the smaller end of the bobbin. As the bobbin it delivered to the device either the larger or the smaller end may be presented to the gauge. In the event that the smaller end is presented to the gauge the bobbin is supported solely on a trap door which opens so that the smaller end of the bobbin pivot: about the gauge as the bobbin is discharged large end downward. If the larger and of the bobbin is presented to the gauge, the smaller end is above an abutment with an intermediate portion of the bobbin supported by the trap door so that when the trap door is opened the smaller end pivots about the abutment and again the bobbin is discharged larger end downward.

PATENTED HAYZS 1971 FIG.5

64 8O INVI: JTOR CHARLES ROUWER W, M x). W ATTO NEYS BOBBIN QRIENTING This invention relates to orienting articles having different size ends and, more particularly, to orienting and discharging a bobbin with a larger of the bobbin ends downward. A

Numerous devices are known in the textile art for orienting yarn packages, such as bobbins, having opposite ends of different sizes. The majority of these devices include apair of gauges of the same size such that either gauge will pass the smaller end of the bobbin and will retain the larger end of the bobbin. Thus, as the bobbin leaves the orienting device its smaller end is downward. However, winding machines commonly accept bobbins only with the larger end of the bobbin downward, so that the previously oriented bobbins must be inverted. ln automated winding equipment, the oriented bobbins must therefore be inverted before they may be fed to the bobbin receiver of the winder. The additional handling required in inverting the bobbins provides greater possibility that the yarn on the bobbins may be scuffed, and entails additional equipment and floor space for the equipment, as well as additional servicing of the equipment.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for orienting articles having ends of different sizes. A related object is provision of such a device for orienting bobbins, either full bobbins, partially filled bobbins or empty bobbins. Another related object is provision of such a device for delivering the bobbin larger end downward.

A more specific object is provision of a new and improved device for orienting bobbins having ends of different sizes, in which a gauge for receiving only the smaller end of the bobbin is provided with the bobbin releasably supported so that when it is released it pivots about its smaller end on the gauge and is delivered larger end downward, or if the larger end is presented to the gauge the smaller end is adjacent an abutment and when released the smaller end pivots about the abutment and the larger end is again delivered lowermost.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, foreshortened, schematic elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a bobbin orienting device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic plan view of the device shown in FIG. I, but with the smaller end of a bobbin received by a gauge of the device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic plan view, similar to FIG. 2, but with the larger end of the bobbin adjacent the gauge;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, schematic sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic left end view of the device, with parts removed for clearer illustration.

Referring to the drawings, a bobbin-orienting device has a base including a bobbin-reciving chute l2 and a supporting panel 14. Fixedly secured to the chute 12 is a generally V- shaped supporting member 16 having elongated slots 18 in its opposite sidewalls 20, each slot 18 slidably receiving a stud 22 and an ear 24 on an abutment member 26, for adjustment of the abutment member 26 lengthwise of the slots 18 with the abutment member held in desired adjusted position by means of nuts 28 on the studs 22 tightened against the adjacent outer faces of the supporting member 16.

A pair of cooperating trap doors 30 are each fixed to rods 32 journaled in suitable mounts with the mounts 34 at one end of the rods 32 fixedly secured to the supporting member 16 and with the other ends of the rods 32 journaled in and extending through the panel 14. In closed position these trap doors 30 underlie and conform generally to the configuration of the abutment member 26. Suitable mechanism for actuating the trap doors 30 is provided to the left of the panel 14 and will be described later.

A bobbin 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be oriented is preferably delivered to the orienting device more or less horizontally disposed and drops into the chute 12 and slides across the abutment member 26. The bobbin 36 has a smaller end 38 and a larger end 40. If, as shownin FIG. 2, the smaller end 38 of the bobbin 36 leads in the chute 12 it will pass into a gauge 42 and will rest solely on the closed trap doors 30. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, should the larger end 40 of the bobbin 36 lead as the bobbin slides downwardly through the abutment member 26 and the trap doors 30, the larger end 40 will not enter the gauge 42 and the smaller end 38 will be supported on the lower end portion of the abutment member 26 with an intermediate portion of the bobbin (as illustrated herein a body of yarn 46 on the bobbin) resting on the trap doors 30.

The gauge 42 includes a pair of opposed slides 48 each received between tabs 50 struck out of the material of the panel 14 and each slide 48 having an elongated slot 52 slidably receiving studs 54' secured to the panel 14, with nuts 56 clamping the slides 48 in adjusted position. Each slide 48 further includes a lip 58, with the lips 58 diverging relative to each other from the gauge 42 to provide a mouth for receiving the bobbin end. Further, each slide 48 has an inwardly extending tab 60 and together these tabs 60 receive the smaller end 38 of the bobbin 36, if the bobbin is so oriented, when the trap doors 30 are opened. Thus, when the bobbin 36 is free of the abutment member 26, (as shown in FIG. 2) the larger end 40 of the bobbin pivots downwardly about these tabs 60 so that the larger end of the bobbin is lowermost as the bobbin is discharged from the orienting device into any suitable receiver such as a chute (not shown). In the event that the larger end 40 of the bobbin is adjacent the gauge 42 (FIG. 3), the smaller end 38 will be above the abutment member 26 with the bobbin supported on the trap doors 30. Thus, when the trap doors 30 are opened, the bobbin again pivots about its smaller end 38. That is, with the smaller end 38 of bobbin 36 supported on the lower end portion of the abutment member 26 the larger end 40 of bobbin 36 falls first. Hence, the bobbin is again discharged from the orienting device with its larger end lowermost.

The actuating mechanism for the trap doors is shown enlarged in FIG. 5 and includes a double-acting operating cylinder 62 pivotally mounted to a fixed portion 64 of the base 10 with its piston rod 66 pivotally connected to an ear 68 extending outwardly from a right-hand one of the trap doors 30.

' An upper end of a leg 70 of a U-shaped link 72 is pivoted, as at 74, to the ear 68 below the pivot rod 32, and the upper end of its other leg 76 is pivoted to the left-hand rod 32, and pivoted, as at 78, to an ear 79 of the left-hand trap door above its pivot rod 32. Thus, when the cylinder 62 is operated by a suitable external signal which may actuate a suitable solenoid valve 80, for example (FIG. 5), the piston rod 66 moves upwardly (FIG. 5) pivoting the right-hand trap door 30 counterclockwise, and similarly rocking the U-shaped connecting link 72 counterclockwise about the left-hand rod 32 to move the left-hand trap door 30 clockwise to an open position of the trap doors as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. Thereafter, upon another suitable external signal, the solenoid valve 80 is again actuated to vent the cylinder 62 permitting a spring (not shown) between the piston and the upper end of the cylinder to withdraw the piston rod 66 thereby closing the trap doors 30.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, it should be noted that as used herein the term yarn" means any strandular material whether textile or otherwise, and the term bobbin" means any yarn package or other article having opposite ends of different sizes, and that various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and that the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for orienting a plurality of bobbins having opposite ends of differing outer diameters, bobbin-receiving means, gauge means connected to said receiving means, trap door means actuatable to an open position when the smaller diameter portion of said bobbin contacts said gauge means whereby said portion pivots about said gauge means and said bobbin is discharged with its larger diameter end portion in a downward position, and abutment means in the path of travel of said bobbin effective in the event the larger diameter portion of said bobbin contacts said gauge means the smaller diameter portion is positioned in elevated position with respect to said abutment means and the smaller diameter end portion pivots about said abutment means and the larger end portion of said'bobbin is discharged in a generally downward direction.

2. A device for orienting a bobbin having opposite ends of different sizes,-comprising retaining means operable between positions for releasably retaining the bobbin and for releasing the bobbin to move downwardly, positioning means which includes engaging means for receiving only the smaller bobbin head end when the bobbin is retained by the retaining means and for releasably supporting the last said bobbinend as the larger end moves downwardly when the bobbin is released by said retaining means, said positioning means including at least one abutment for supporting the smaller bobbin end only when the larger bobbin end is adjacent said gauging means as the bobbin is released by the retaining means, means for adjusting said gauging means to gauge various size bobbin ends, at least one of said abutmcnts being spaced from said gauging means, means to vary the spacing to accommodate bobbins of various lengths, and trap door means connected to said retaining means operable to support the bobbin and being located below one said abutments. 

1. Apparatus for orienting a plurality of bobbins having opposite ends of differing outer diameters, bobbin-receiving means, gauge means connected to said receiving means, trap door means actuatable to an open position when the smaller diameter portion of said bobbin contacts said gauge means whereby said portion pivots about said gauge means and said bobbin is discharged with its larger diameter end portion in a downward position, and abutment means in the path of travel of said bobbin effective in the event the larger diameter portion of said bobbin contacts said gauge means the smaller diameter portion is positioned in elevated position with respect to said abutment means and the smaller diameter end portion pivots about said abutment means and the larger end portion of said bobbin is discharged in a generally downward direction.
 2. A device for orienting a bobbin having opposite ends of different sizes, comprising retaining means operable between positions for releasably retaining the bobbin and for releasing the bobbin to move downwardly, positioning means which includes engaging means for receiving only the smaller bobbin head end when the bobbin is retained by the retaining means and for releasably supporting the last said bobbin end as the larger end moves downwardly when the bobbin is released by said retaining means, said positioning means including at least one abutment for supporting the smaller bobbin end only when the larger bobbin end is adjacent said gauging means as the bobbin is released by the retaining means, means for adjusting said gauging means to gauge various size bobbin ends, at least one of said abutments being spaced from said gauging means, means to vary the spacing to accommodate bobbins of various lengths, and trap door means connected to said retaining means operable to support the bobbin and being located below one said abutments. 